Call for Papers: Human Rights: Fundamental Values in International Law?

On the occasion of the 13th ESIL Conference in Naples, the ESIL Interest Group on International Human Rights Law has issued a call for papers for a half-day workshop on "Human Rights: Fundamental Values in International Law?" Here's the call:

Call for Papers

ESIL 13th Anniversary Conference on
Global Public Goods, Global Commons and Fundamental Values:
The Responses of International Law

Naples, 6-9 September 2017

European Society of International Law Interest Group
on International Human Rights Law Session

‘Human Rights: Fundamental Values in International Law?’

6 September 2017

On the occasion of the 13th ESIL Conference in Naples, the ESIL Interest Group on International Human Rights Law invites submissions for a half day workshop on ‘Human Rights: Fundamental Values in International Law?’ on 6 September 2017 in Naples. The 2017 Naples Conference seeks to explore how international law responds to global public goods, global commons and fundamental values. In line with our approach to each annual conference, the ESIL Interest Group on International Human Rights Law will examine the theme of the annual conference from a human rights perspective.

The Topic

In our call, we ask whether human rights operate as fundamental values in international law and if so, to what extent and in what form, in which fora and with what type of consequences? What does it mean to hold that human rights are fundamental values in international law? How does the characterization of human rights as a fundamental value play out in different branches of international law? Do human rights play a role as fundamental values beyond offering content for ius cogens norms? Is their status mere rhetoric against the background of fragmentation of the international legal order? If human rights are fundamental values, are they in competition with other fundamental values? In this workshop, we are interested in papers that study the use of human rights in nonhuman rights international legal contexts, and by non-human rights international courts and bodies. We are also interested in papers that seek to trace the history and development of human rights as fundamental values in general international law and how specialized bodies in human rights, such as the Inter-American Court on Human Rights espouse human rights as fundamental values when they interact with other branches of international law. The selection panel will give priority to paper submissions that focus on issues that are not covered by the fora and agorae of the main conference (please see conference website for more information) and to those who do not have a speaking slot in the main conference.

The Application Process

We invite submissions of abstracts of no more than 500 words. Selection will be based on how closely tied the abstract is to the theme of the workshop; scholarly merit; and with the view to producing an engaging workshop. All submissions are expected to be submitted as draft papers ahead of the workshop.

Each submission should include the following in the same document:

(a) short bio containing the author’s name, institutional affiliation, contact information and e-mail address;
(b) an abstract of no more than 500 words;

Applications should be submitted by 20 April 2017 to kuremer@ku.edu.tr All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process by 20 May 2017. Accepted full papers are due by 20 August 2017.

Please note that the ESIL Interest Group on International Human Rights Law is unable to provide funds to cover the conference registration fee or related transport and accommodation.